Do we really need a 3-D version of "Titanic"? Um...NO.

In an article on Yahoo! Movie news, it appears that James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster "Titanic" may be heading back to theaters, this time in 3-D. According to Lightstorm Entertainment partner, and "Titanic" producer, Jon Landau, tests have been done on the Oscar-winner as well as Cameron's 1991 blockbuster "Terminator 2" and the process of converting the films to the 3-D format "are pretty far down the road". Landau hinted that "Titanic" could sail back into theaters as soon as 2010. The article also mentions the upcoming 3-D reissue of the first two "Toy Story" and the pricey downside to reissuing films in the 3-D format.

Now, I am all for seeing some computer-animated features in Digital 3-D, and I am curious about the film Cameron actually shot in 3-D right from the start, the upcoming "Avatar". But, "Titanic"? A 197-minute love story in 3-D? Granted, the drawing room scene in 3-D is very enticing. But I can't see where the first half of the film would gain any benefit. Billy Zane's Snidley Whiplash character is still going to be a jaw-dropping joke, and Cameron's dialogue will still induce wincing from those who have evolved beyond the junior high school level.

I guess the benefit of putting "Titanic" in 3-D would where the film really took off: the second half after the boat hits the iceberg and slowly sinks. Still, the idea of watching such a horrific event unfold in "crazy cool" (my pick for one of the worst phrases so far this century) 3-D isn't just wrong. It's an affront to those who died that fateful night over 90 years ago. Then again, so was Cameron declaring he was "King of the World" at the 1997 Oscars after winning Best Director. Let's just hope that Steven Spielberg doesn't decide to reissue "Schindler's List" in 3-D at some point.

Reissuing films like "Titanic" and possibly the "Star Wars" and "Lord of the Rings" films (you just know New Line is thinking about that) isn't an artistic advancement on behalf of the film. It's just another way to get the average filmgoer to dish out even more money for something that they probably have already spent money on a couple of times -if not more- beforehand.